Nail technician in Oakland embraces community service

Winter Garden’s Omairis Santiago originally is from Puerto Rico. 

She moved in 2012 to Winter Garden and went searching for a nail technician to do her nails like she got them done on the island. 

“I had a girl over there, and she did my nails amazing,” she said. “I went looking for that, but I didn’t find it. I went to a regular nail salon, and I didn’t like the way they did my French (tips), so I called my husband crying, asking for a plane ticket to go back to Puerto Rico get my nails done.” 

After a moment of distress, she hopped on Google and searched for schools to obtain her nail technician license. 

If no one else could do her nails the way she wanted them done, then she was going to learn to do them herself. 

And she did. 

She went to school and earned her license, and along the way was offered a scholarship for esthetics, which she gladly accepted. 

“I’ve used that to my advantage because I’m able to help others, which are pregnant moms on bed rest, diabetics, cancer patients, hospice patients, just people that are in need,” Santiago said. “I go to (seniors’) homes, so I have a mobile kit inside my car.” 

What she didn’t know is that obtaining her licenses would forever change her life — in more ways than one. 

Rosebud Photography

SURVIVOR’S STORY

Santiago had a difficult upbringing, and her teenage years were anything but easy. She quickly learned about  overcoming challenges and making sacrifices. 

At 15 years old, she was sexually assaulted and, soon after, was kicked out of her home because of her complicated relationship with her parents. 

She began working as a waitress at Denny’s to make a living. 

It wasn’t easy, but she never thought about giving up. 

She didn’t view herself as a victim but instead a survivor. 

“I always hustled, I always had to find that next thing, you know,” she said. “I had to survive. I had to make sure I was OK by myself.” 

Instead of letting those moments define her, she chose to accept it and give back to the community — those who helped her during her trying times. 

One way she does that is through her nail services, but she goes far beyond just nails. 

When she obtained her license, she wasn’t looking to a start a business, but she said God always has a plan. 

“There’s a group called the Winter Garden Moms, and I was added to the group,” Santiago said. “There was a pregnant mom on there looking for mobile (nail) services … I was like, ‘I got the basics, I can go do your nails for free.’ The next day, I woke up with over 45 messages from different moms asking me to come to their homes and do their nails while their babies took naps because they had nobody there for them.” 

Santiago quickly found comfort knowing she could be a helping hand to not only mothers in need but also any person who needs it. 

That’s when Polished Artistry Co. was created. 

“I feel like moving here from Puerto Rico was a blessing in disguise,” she said. “I didn’t know what was my calling, my plan or God’s plan, right until I moved over here.” 

Santiago believes her purpose is to help people, and she hopes to leave a positive impression on every client, community member and person she services. 

“God has a plan, so either I’m going to be learning from you, or you’re going to be learning from me,” she said. 

BEYOND THE NAILS

Her love for community service is far deeper than her love for anything else. 

Her first year as a nail technician, her revenue totaled $7,000. 

Santiago wasn’t discouraged. 

Soon, by word of mouth, her clients brought in more clients, and the following year, her revenue more than tripled. 

Even then, it didn’t matter. 

It was never about the money but rather about helping those in need, making her clients feel comfortable and know they are never alone.

One of her clients and now best friend, Laura Chin, has known Santiago since 2016. 

Chin found Santiago through a mom’s group on Facebook. 

“My son was just shy of being 1, and I was trying to find myself again,” Chin said. “I needed something to get me out of the house and feel like it was a splurge just for me. All the moms raved about her.” 

Her first appointment with Santiago was during her son’s nap time. 

Santiago took her time explaining her services and set up appointments every three weeks at 8 p.m., after Chin’s son was tucked in. 

“She was willing to let me come Friday nights after I had put my son to bed,” she said. “It became our dedicated rest time. She’d do my nails, we’d scroll (on) social media, watch something on TV and casually hang out — but we weren’t best friends yet.” 

The best friend status came in 2020, when Chin was pregnant with her daughter. 

Santiago was by Chin’s side while Chin had been furloughed during the COVID-19 pandemic and was worried about the logistics of having her parents coming to watch her son, her daughter being born and everything happening in the world, all while her husband still was working.

“She knew how stubborn I could be and told me at my appointment that if I needed anything, I was to call her,” Chin said. “I brushed it off because that’s just something everyone says and no one really follows through — especially when we were all social distancing. But the next day, when it was 2 a.m. and contractions were less than five minutes apart, I took her advice and I called her.” 

Santiago showed her she wasn’t just there for Chin’s nail journey but her life journey, as well. 

They raced down State Road 408, quickly arriving at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies. 

But it didn’t end there. 

Santiago returned to the Chin home to watch Chin’s son so her husband could be with her at the hospital. While there, she also tidied up the house.

“There’s no one else I’d rather have in my corner than Omairis,” Chin said. “And anyone in the community is blessed having her, as well. I see the lengths she goes through for local businesses, for Matthew’s Hope, for Oakland and Winter Garden. She sacrifices a lot for her family and her business and her community, but she will always be up front to you about everything, and I truly appreciate that from her.” 

Over the years of success, Santiago has credited her accomplishments not only to her hard work and dedication but also the clients who have supported her throughout the years. 

“My clients are my friends,” Santiago said. “There’s a code on my door for people to come when they need a safe space, there are snacks in the refrigerator, water, TV.”

During the school year, Santiago even took her services to Illuminations Academy for Teacher Appreciation Day, providing hand massages to teachers who work with individuals with special needs. She provided hot-oil hand massages and goodie bags filled with eye and lip masks, bath bombs, sensory items and gift certificates.

Santiago always is going above and beyond to make sure all clients are happy with their nails, even if they can’t afford it. 

“At the end of the day, I just want them to feel comfortable — even if they don’t come back, because in that moment, I literally feel at home being able to help,” she said. “We live in a society that you’re being judged for what you wear, how you wear it. … I couldn’t care less.” 

Being able to make women feel confident, comfortable and at home is what Santiago always is striving for, and those are the results she achieves each time. 

She currently is located at 301 N. Tubb St., Suite 113, Oakland, where she’s been since 2024, offering services including gel overlays, manicures and pedicures, soak-offs, free nail consultations, nail transformations, diabetic pedicures, elderly pedicures and more. 

“If it wasn’t because of this business, I would’ve never found my calling and my purpose,” she said.